Watch I Bring What I Love

I Bring What I Love is a documentary film released in 2008 that tells the story of Youssou N'Dour, one of Africa's most famous musicians, and his journey to create an album that combines his Muslim faith with his love of music. The film takes place in Senegal, N'Dour's birthplace, as well as in various recording studios in Europe and America.

The film begins by introducing the viewer to N'Dour and his music. We see him performing on stage to a cheering crowd and speaking passionately about his belief that music can bring people together. The film then moves on to talk about N'Dour's desire to bring Islamic songs to a wider audience. He hopes that by combining traditional Islamic melodies with his own unique style of music, he can break down some of the barriers between the Muslim world and the West.

However, N'Dour's decision to create an album of Islamic music is not without controversy. Senegal, like many African countries, is predominantly Muslim, but it also has a strong tradition of secular music. Some of N'Dour's fans worry that by focusing on Islamic music, he will lose some of his popularity and alienate his non-Muslim fans. Additionally, there are concerns about how his music will be received in the West, where Islam is often viewed with suspicion and hostility.

Despite these challenges, N'Dour is determined to follow his vision. He travels to Egypt to study the history of Islamic music and meets with scholars and musicians to learn more about the traditions he hopes to incorporate into his own work. The film also shows N'Dour in the recording studio, experimenting with different sounds and melodies. We see him collaborating with other musicians, including Peter Gabriel, who is a fan of N'Dour's music and joins him to help produce the album.

Throughout the film, we get glimpses of N'Dour's personal life. We see him spending time with his wife and children, and we learn about his experiences growing up in Senegal. These personal moments help to humanize N'Dour and show us the person behind the music.

The film also touches on political issues, such as the tension between the Muslim world and the West. However, it does so in a subtle way, focusing more on the power of music to unite people across cultural and religious differences.

Overall, I Bring What I Love is a powerful and inspiring film that celebrates the beauty and diversity of Islamic music while also telling the personal story of one of Africa's most talented musicians. It shows the challenges that come with trying to break down cultural barriers, but also the tremendous rewards that can come from following one's passions and beliefs. The film will appeal to fans of African music, world music, and anyone interested in exploring the intersection of music and religion.

I Bring What I Love is a 2010 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 59.